Progress and Challenges in Coupled Hydrodynamic-Ecological Estuarine Modeling

Abstract

Numerical modeling has emerged over the last several decades as a widely accepted tool for investigations in environmental sciences. In estuarine research, hydrodynamic and ecological models have moved along parallel tracks with regard to complexity, refinement, computational power, and incorporation of uncertainty. Coupled hydrodynamic-ecological models have been used to assess ecosystem processes and interactions, simulate future scenarios, and evaluate remedial actions in response to eutrophication, habitat loss, and freshwater diversion. The need to couple hydrodynamic and ecological models to address research and management questions is clear, because dynamic feedbacks between biotic and physical processes are critical interactions within ecosystems. In this review we present historical and modern perspectives on estuarine hydrodynamic and ecological modeling, consider model limitations, and address aspects of model linkage, skill assessment, and complexity. We discuss the balance between spatial and temporal resolution and present examples using different spatiotemporal scales. Finally, we recommend future lines of inquiry, approaches to balance complexity and uncertainty, and model transparency and utility. It is idealistic to think we can pursue a “theory of everything” for estuarine models, but recent advances suggest that models for both scientific investigations and management applications will continue to improve in terms of realism, precision, and accuracy.

Oyster salinity-based habitat monitoring in Bandon Bay, Surat Thani, Thailand: A coupled eco-hydrological model approach

“…In order to couple the models, we first use the same ecological model in each grid. The output of hydrodynamic model is used as the input of the ecological model without feedback from ecological part to the hydrodynamic part [14]. Fig.…”

Ecological modeling and eutrophication—A review

“…Some of these concerned inland seas in Pacific Ocean (Kishi & Ikeda, 1986), lake systems in USA (Dickinson, Huber, & Pollman, 1992), and coastal waters in Atlantic Ocean (Walsh et al, 1988). Nowadays, more and more models are developed and published annually (Ferdi, 2017;Ganju et al, 2016;Hu, 2016;Sharma & Kansal, 2013).…”

Application of an Unstructured Grid-Based Water Quality Model to Chesapeake Bay and Its Adjacent Coastal Ocean

“…Statistical empirical models and simplified oxygen models omitting nutrient cycles have been developed as substitutes for specific research goals, but it is impossible to reproduce the detailed internal spatiotemporal water quality variation and comparatively evaluate biophysical drivers [14]. In contrast, the three-dimensional physical-biogeochemical model could better resolve the biophysical interactions between circulation and water quality kinetics [11,12] and facilitate mechanistic analysis of internal water-column dynamics [15][16][17], making it an ideal tool to investigate nutrient dynamics and algal variability in eutrophic estuaries [18], synoptically assess estuarine biophysical processes and project future scenarios [19,20].…”

“…However, there exist several challenges and limitations in developing and applying sophisticated biophysical models [20]. For example, low-resolution models have difficulty following the coastline or investigating the tributary-estuary exchange very well.…”